It’s likely the money missing from a Selma Police Department evidence safe for more than 1 1/2 years will never be recovered, according to Mayor George Evans.

Evans, police chief William T. Riley III and Jimmy Nunn, the city’s attorney, held a conference call earlier this week with Gene Sisson, division chief of investigations for the state Attorney General’s Office, to find out what had happened.

Sisson confirmed the Attorney General’s Office received a file to investigate the missing money from the police department Jan. 10, 2008. At the time, then-police chief Jimmy Martin reported the money — several thousand dollars — missing. Mayor James Perkins Jr., who was in office at the time, reported that the case had been turned over to the Attorney General’s Office.

“They came over here and couldn’t get any cooperation,” Evans told the Selma City Council during its Tuesday night meeting in City Hall.

The report by the investigator concluded that too many people had access to the evidence safe and a confession was not forthcoming from anyone. The investigative file stated after several visits to the police department without any additional findings, the Investigative Division closed the case.

Councilman the Rev. Dr. Cecil Williamson wants the council to investigate the missing money. By law the council has subpoena powers and the authority to hold hearings.

Nunn answered, “They’ll plead the fifth even if you subpoena somebody if they think they’ll get a criminal charge.”

Evans said there is nothing in the report that would convict anyone.

“Something happened that shouldn’t have happened,” he said. “I just don’t see at this point where having an investigation by the council is going to turn up any more evidence than the attorney general when they come over. It’s a witch hunt that will lead to nothing.”